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Numbers Chapter
Six
Numbers 6
Chapter Contents
The law concerning the Nazarites. (1-21) The form of
blessing the people. (22-27)
Commentary on Numbers 6:1-21
The word Nazarite signifies separation. Some were
appointed of God, before their birth, to be Nazarites all their days, as Samson
and John the Baptist. But, in general, it was a vow of separation from the
world and devotedness to the services of religion, for a limited time, and
under certain rules, which any person might make if they pleased. A Nazarite is
spoken of as well known; but his obligation is brought to a greater certainty
than before. That the fancies of superstitious men might not multiply the
restraints endlessly, God gives them rules. They must not drink wine or strong
drink, nor eat grapes. Those who separate themselves to God, must not gratify
the desires of the body, but keep it under. Let all Christians be very moderate
in the use of wine and strong drink; for if the love of these once gets the
mastery of a man, he becomes an easy prey to Satan. The Nazarites were to eat
nothing that came of the vine; this may teach the utmost care to avoid sin, and
all that borders upon it, and leads to it, or may be a temptation to us. They
must not cut their hair. They must neither poll their heads, nor shave their
beards; this was the mark of Samson being a Nazarite. This signified neglect of
the body, and of the ease and ornament of it. Those who separate themselves to
God, must keep their consciences pure from dead works, and not touch unclean
things. All the days of their separation they must be holy to the Lord. This
was the meaning of those outward observances, and without this they were of no
account. No penalty or sacrifice was appointed for those who wilfully broke
their vow of being Nazarites; they must answer another day for such profane
trifling with the Lord their God; but those were to be relieved who did not sin
wilfully. There is nothing in Scripture that bears the least resemblance to the
religious orders of the church of Rome, except these Nazarites. But mark the
difference, or rather how completely opposed! The religious of that church are
forbidden to marry; but no such restriction is laid upon the Nazarites. They
are commanded to abstain from meats; but the Nazarites might eat any food
allowed other Israelites. They are not generally forbidden wine, not even on
their fasting days; but the Nazarites might not have wine at any time. Their
vow is lasting, even to the end of their lives; the Nazarites' vow was only for
a limited time, at their own will; and in certain cases not unless allowed by
husbands or parents. Such a thorough difference there is between rules of man's
invention and those directed in Scripture, Let us not forget that the Lord
Jesus is not only our Surety, but also our example. For his sake we must
renounce worldly pleasures, abstain from fleshy lusts, be separate from
sinners, make open profession of our faith, moderate natural affections, be
spiritually-minded, and devoted to God's service, and desirous to be an example
all around us.
Commentary on Numbers 6:22-27
The priests were solemnly to bless the people in the name
of the Lord. To be under the almighty protection of God our Saviour; to enjoy
his favour as the smile of a loving Father, or as the cheering beams of the
sun; while he mercifully forgives our sins, supplies our wants, consoles the
heart, and prepares us by his grace for eternal glory; these things form the
substance of this blessing, and the sum total of all blessings. In so rich a
list of mercies worldly joys are not worthy to be mentioned. Here is a form of
prayer. The name Jehovah is three times repeated. The Jews think there is some
mystery; and we know what it is, the New Testament having explained it. There
we are directed to expect the blessing from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of the Father, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, 2 Corinthians 13:14; each of which Persons is
Jehovah, and yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on
Numbers》
Numbers 6
Verse 2
[2]
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman
shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves
unto the LORD:
Man or woman —
For both sexes might make this vow, if they were free and at their own
disposal: otherwise their parents or husbands could disannul the vow.
A vow of a Nazarite —
Whereby they sequestered themselves from worldly employments and enjoyments,
that they might entirely consecrate themselves to God's service, and this
either for their whole lifetime, or for a less and limited space of time.
Verse 3
[3] He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no
vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor
of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
Nor eat grapes —
Which was forbidden him for greater caution to keep him at the farther distance
from wine.
Verse 4
[4] All
the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree,
from the kernels even to the husk.
All the days of his separation — Which were sometimes more, sometimes fewer, as he thought fit to
appoint.
Verse 5
[5] All
the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head:
until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD,
he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
No razor —
Nor scissors, or other instrument to cut off any part of his hair. This was
appointed, partly as a sign of his mortification to worldly delights and
outward beauty; partly as a testimony of that purity which hereby he professed,
because the cutting off the hair was a sign of uncleanness, as appears from Numbers 6:9, partly that by the length of his
hair he might be constantly minded of his vow; and partly that he might reserve
his hair entirely for God, to whom it was to be offered.
Holy —
That is, wholly consecrated to God and his service, whereby he shews that
inward holiness was the great thing which God required and valued in these, and
consequently in other rites and ceremonies.
Verse 7
[7] He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for
his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his
God is upon his head.
His father —
Wherein he was equal to the high-priest, being, in some sort, as eminent a type
of Christ, and therefore justly required to prefer the service of God, to which
he had so fully given himself, before the expressions of his affections to his
dearest and nearest relations.
The consecration —
That is, the token of his consecration, namely, his long hair.
Verse 9
[9] And
if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his
consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the
seventh day shall he shave it.
He shall shave his head — Because his whole body, and especially his hair was defiled by such an
accident, which he ought to impute either to his own heedlessness, or to God's
providence so ordering the matter, possibly for the punishment of his other
sins, or for the quickening him to more purity and detestation of all dead
works, whereby he would be defiled.
Verse 11
[11] And
the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt
offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and
shall hallow his head that same day.
A sin-offering —
Because such a pollution was, though not his sin, yet the chastisement of his
sin.
He sinned —
That is, contracted a ceremonial uncleanness, which is called sinning, because
it was a type of sin, and a violation of a law, tho' through ignorance and
inadvertency.
Hallow —
Begin again to hallow or consecrate it.
Verse 12
[12] And
he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a
lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before
shall be lost, because his separation was defiled.
The days of his separation — As many days as he had before vowed to God.
Lost —
Heb. fall, to the ground, that is, be void or of none effect.
Verse 14
[14] And
he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year
without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year
without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace
offerings,
A sin-offering —
Whereby he confessed his miscarriages, notwithstanding the strictness of his
vow and all the diligence which he could use, and consequently acknowledged his
need of the grace of God in Christ Jesus the true Nazarite.
For peace-offerings —
For thankfulness to God, who had given him grace to make and in some measure to
keep such a vow. So he offered all the three sorts of offerings, that he might
so far fulfil all righteousness and profess his obligation to observe the will
of God in all things.
Verse 15
[15] And
a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers
of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink
offerings.
Their meal-offering —
Such as generally accompanied the sacrifices.
Verse 18
[18] And
the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his
separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace
offerings.
At the door —
Publickly, that it might be known that his vow was ended, and therefore he was
at liberty as to those things from which he had restrained himself for a
season, otherwise some might have been scandalized at his use of his liberty.
The fire —
Upon which the flesh of the peace-offerings was boiled.
Verse 19
[19] And
the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake
out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands
of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven:
The shoulder —
The left-shoulder, as it appears from Numbers 6:20, where this is joined with the
heave-shoulder, which was the right-shoulder, and which was the priests due in
all sacrifices, Leviticus 7:32, and in this also. But here the
other shoulder was added to it, as a special token of thankfulness from the
Nazarites for God's singular favours vouchsafed unto them.
The hands —
That he may give them to the priest, as his peculiar gift.
Verse 20
[20] And
the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy
for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the
Nazarite may drink wine.
May drink wine —
And return to his former manner of living.
Verse 21
[21] This
is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD
for his separation, beside that that his hand shall get: according to the vow
which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation.
That his hand shall get — Besides what he shall voluntarily give according to his ability.
Verse 23
[23]
Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the
children of Israel, saying unto them,
On this wise —
Heb. Thus, or in these words: yet they were not tied to these very words;
because after this we have examples of Moses and David and Solomon, blessing
the people in other words.
Verse 24
[24] The
LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
Bless thee —
Bestow upon you all manner of blessings, temporal and spiritual.
Keep thee —
That is, continue his blessings to thee, and preserve thee in and to the use of
them; keep thee from sin and its bitter effects.
Verse 25
[25] The
LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
Shine upon thee —
Alluding to the shining of the sun upon the earth, to enlighten, and warm, and
renew the face of it. The Lord love thee, and make thee know that he loves
thee. We cannot but be happy, if we have God's love; and we cannot but be easy,
if we know that we have it.
Verse 26
[26] The
LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Lift up his countenance — That is, look upon thee with a chearful and pleasant countenance, as one
that is well pleased with thee and thy services.
Peace —
Peace with God, with thy own conscience, and with all men; all prosperity is
comprehended under this word.
Verse 27
[27] And
they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
Put my name —
Shall call them by my name, shall recommend them to me as my own people, and
bless them and pray unto me for them as such; which is a powerful argument to
prevail with God for them.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Numbers》
"THE PRIESTLY BLESSING"
Numbers 6:22-27
INTRODUCTION
1. In a book filled with "numbers", we find a beautiful gem of
scripture, which has been called "the Lord's Prayer of the Old
Testament":
"The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."
2. As noted in Num 6:22-27, it is the blessing of the Lord with which
Aaron and his sons were to bless the children of Israel ...
a. Aaron and his sons made up the priesthood for Israel
b. Therefore this passage as often been called "The Priestly
Blessing" (also the Aaronic Benediction)
3. In this passage, I believe we learn things about the Lord which are
just as true today...
a. Even though we do not live under the Old Covenant, with its
Aaronic priesthood
b. We do have a "High Priest", who desires to bless us just as
richly (if not more so)!
[To understand what I mean, let's first look more closely at...]
I. THE PRIESTLY BLESSING DEFINED
A. "THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU"
1. The word "bless" means to confer well-being or prosperity
a. The promise of such blessings was conditional - Deu 28:1-6
b. Failure to meet God's conditions brought curses, not
blessings - Deu 28:15-19
2. The word "keep" means to provide and care, to guard and
protect
a. A beautiful psalm which speaks of God's care is Psa 121:1-8
b. Like a shepherd guarding and providing his sheep, the
benediction calls upon God to keep watch over Israel
B. "THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU, AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU"
1. To "make His face shine" may be an idiom...
a. Indicating God's smile of favor on His people, evidenced by
His being "gracious" (Wenham)
b. Note how it is used elsewhere - Psa 31:16; 80:3; Dan 9:17
2. To "be gracious" means to bestow favor, especially that which
is unmerited
a. The parallelism of this benediction suggests this favor
refers to the blessing and keeping by the Lord mentioned
previously
b. Perhaps emphasizing that such blessings are unmerited, even
though conditional
C. "THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON YOU, AND GIVE YOU PEACE"
1. To "lift up His countenance" may be similar to smile
(Believers' Study Bible)
a. As such it suggests pleasure and affection (Allen)
b. Also approval and recognition (Ryrie)
2. The word "peace" is not just the absence of war, but a
positive state of rightness and fullness of well-being (Allen)
a. For the nation of Israel , God had promised peace if they
were faithful - Lev 26:6
b. There was also peace for the individual who trusted in God
- Isa 26:3
[That God would have Aaron and his sons bless the children of Israel
with this benediction indicates that God really wanted to bless and
provide for them.
How about today? Does God desire to bless us, and if so, how?]
II. THE PRIESTLY BLESSING TODAY
A. "THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU"
1. Indeed the Lord does desire to bless us!
a. Today, those blessings come through Jesus Christ - Ep 1:3
b. They come especially to those described in Mt 5:3-12
2. And the Lord desires to provide and care for us!
a. As described by Jesus in Mt 6:25-32
b. But this care is conditional, the condition described in
Mt 6:33
-- Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and the
priestly blessing will be upon you too!
B. "THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU, AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU"
1. Just as all spiritual blessings come through Jesus, so God's
grace is now manifested through His Son - cf. Jn 1:17
2. Yes, God desires to show His smile of favor upon us, but it is
imperative that we not receive it in vain! - cf. 2 Co 6:1-3
-- How sad that God's grace is so freely extended, yet so few
accept His grace!
C. "THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON YOU, AND GIVE YOU PEACE"
1. Through Christ, peace with God is now possible - Ro 5:1
2. And as we continue to pray, God bestows peace through His Son
- Ph 4:6-7
-- The Father is willing to give us peace, but do we accept it?
CONCLUSION
1. We have been talking about "The Priestly Blessing"...
a. How God wanted to bless Israel under the Old Covenant
b. Through His priests in the Aaronic priesthood
2. We have noted that the same sort of blessings are available today...
a. But the blessings of God are bestowed through His Son, Jesus
Christ
b. Who today is our "High Priest" - cf. He 4:14-16
The point of this lesson is simple, yet profound:
If you desire "The Priestly Blessing" today, you must be in
Christ and He must be your High Priest; for that is how God
is blessing His people today! (cf. Ep 1:3)
Are you in Jesus Christ? How does one get "into" Christ, where they
can receive the blessings He offers as our High Priest? Consider what
is said in Ga 3:26-27...
──《Executable
Outlines》
06 Chapter 6
Verses 1-21
A vow of a Nazarite.
The law of vows (with special reference to the Nazarite)
1. The principle of the vow is that God has placed earth’s good
things at man’s disposal; and it is a becoming thing in him to give so much of
it back to God (1 Chronicles 29:14; 1 Chronicles 29:16; Jonah 1:16). But once made, there was no
option in the performance of the vow. No vow was better than a vow
unpaid (Deuteronomy 23:21-22 : Ecclesiastes 5:4-6).
2. The subjects of vows were endless as a man’s possessions. They
extended even to the person of himself or others over whom he might have
control (Leviticus 27:1-34).
3. But the vow at once most prominent in the Old Testament, and
coming nearest to the personal consecration asked for in the New, is that of
the Nazarite. The Nazaritish vow is explainable neither on the one hand as
stoicism, nor on the other as a mystic representation of the Divine power
working in man. It represents the ideal of sacrifice, in the devotement of a
man’s own person to God.
I. The marks of
dedication laid upon the Nazarite.
1. He is to abstain from all alcoholic liquor; and, to avoid danger
or suspicion, must abstain from all that comes from the vine (Numbers 6:3-4). As a similar regulation
was made regarding the priests when in God’s service (Leviticus 10:9), the inference is that
indulgence in strong drink specially unfits a man for God’s presence or
indwelling.
2. He is to leave his hair unshorn (Numbers 6:5), obviously as a badge of his
position. The meaning of the Nazarite’s long hair, i.e. his
subjection to God, gives meaning to the woman’s long hair (1 Corinthians 11:10), viz. her
subjection to man.
3. He must not come into contact with the dead (Numbers 6:7). The lesson lay in the close
connection between death and sin, and carried the promise of victory over death
to him who sought the victory over sin.
II. The examples presented
in scripture of the nazarite vow. The vow was generally taken for a short
period--from thirty to sixty days--and probably its very commonness prevents
its being much noticed in Scripture. But there are some notable examples of
Nazarites for life. Samson was, in the full sense of the word, a life-Nazarite
(Judges 13:1-25.). In the case of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11), no mention is made
of abstinence, and in the case of John Baptist (Luke 1:15) no mention is made of the
hair; but it is probable that they were both full Nazarites.
III. Its application
to ourselves.
1. In Bible times it was a permissible and honourable thing to
abstain from intoxicating drinks. When God had any specially great or holy work
for a man to do, He would have him a Nazarite or an abstainer (Leviticus 10:9, &c.). He classes the
Nazarite with the prophet (Amos 2:11). Have we any less reason
to-day to be abstainers than these men had?
2. The Nazaritish vow raises the question of our entire consecration
to God. Christ was not an abstainer because He is the one perfect example of
consecration, and representative of the body which shall yet stand in its
completed freedom before God. There will be no vows in heaven, because at every
moment the heart’s
choice will be all that it should be. But if we put vows from us now, we have
to ask, Is it because we are above them, or because we are below them? (W.
Roberts, M. A.)
The ordinance of Nazariteship:
1. The fruit of the vine, in every shape and form, was to him a
forbidden thing. Now, wine, as we know, is the apt symbol of earthly joy--the
expression of that social enjoyment which the human heart is so fully capable
of entering into. From this the Nazarite in the wilderness was sedulously to
keep himself. It is a very grave question indeed how far we, as Christians, are
really entering into the meaning and power of this intense separation from all
the excitement of nature and from all merely earthly joy. It may perhaps be
said, “What harm is there in having a little amusement or recreation? Has not
God given us richly all things to enjoy? And while we are in the world, is it
not right that we should enjoy it?” We reply, it is not a question of the harm
of this, that, or the other. There was no harm, as a general rule, in wine,
nothing abstractedly wrong in the vine tree. The question for us is this, Do we
aim at being Nazarites? Do we sigh after thorough separation and devotement of
ourselves, in body, soul, and spirit, unto God? If so, we must be apart from
all these things in which mere nature finds its enjoyment.
2. But there was another thing which marked the Nazarite. He was not
to shave his head. In 1 Corinthians 11:14, we learn that
it argues a lack of dignity for a man to have long hair. From this we learn
that if we really desire to live a life of separation to God, we must be
prepared to surrender our dignity in nature. Now here is just the very thing
which we so little like to do. We naturally stand up for our dignity and seek
to maintain our rights. It is deemed manly so to do. But the perfect Man never
did so; and if we aim at being Nazarites we shall not do so either. We must
surrender the dignities of nature, and forego the joys of earth, if we would
tread a path of thorough separation to God in this world. By and by both will
be in place; but not now. This simplifies the matter amazingly. It answers a thousand
questions and solves a thousand difficulties. It is of little use to split;
hairs about the harm of this or that particular thing. The question is, What is our real purpose and
object? Do we merely want to get on as men, or do we long to live as true
Nazarites?
3. The Nazarite was not to touch a dead body (verses 6, 7). When once
the consecration of God rested upon the head of any one, that important fact
became the touchstone of all morality. It placed the individual on entirely new
ground, and rendered it imperative upon him to look at everything from a
peculiar point of view. He was no longer to ask what became him as a man; but
what became him as a Nazarite.
4. We behold, in the person of the Nazarite, a type of one who sets
out in some special path of devotedness or consecration to Christ. The power of
continuance in this path consists in secret communion with God; so that if the
communion be interrupted, the power is gone. (C. H. Mackintosh.)
Nazarite rules
1. No juice of grape, no produce of the vine, may touch the
consecrated lips. This principle is broad and deep. Flee whatever may tend co
weaken the firm energy, or to stir up the sleeping brood of sensual and ungodly
lusts. More than gross vice is branded here. Evils may enter in a pigmy
form. At first they may seem harmless. Avoid them. They are the cancer’s touch.
They are the weed’s first seed.
2. No razor approaches the Nazarite’s hair. His flowing locks openly
announce his separate state. The dedication must not be a secret act, known
only to the conscience and the Lord. Religion is not for the closet or the
knees alone. It is not a lily, growing only in the shade. It is to be the one attire in which
you move abroad--the holy crown which sparkles on your brow.
3. He must avoid all contact with the dead. Among the living he must
live. Wherefore is death to be thus shunned? It is the penalty of sin--the sign
of God’s most righteous wrath. It is a proof of innocence destroyed-of evil
touched--of vengeance merited. It is abomination’s colleague. Therefore it is
emblem of what holy men should holily abhor. (Dean Law.)
The Nazarite
It is to be noticed here that this separation was voluntary
and in full accordance with the self-determination of the will power. The
Nazarite, of his own choice, vowed a vow that for a certain time at least he
would be all the Lord’s. This indicated his conscious choice. He could make the
vow, or he could decline to do so. In all his dealings with men, God recognises
and honours their will power. No cue is coerced into His service. No one is
over-constrained to set himself apart for God. And so it is with Christian
holiness--the New Testament idea of Nazaritism. Men must first of all, by the
Spirit of God, will to be all the Lord’s. They must will to give up themselves,
the world, and sin, and every wrong thing, and to be separated to God for ever.
Those Nazarites to God were among the brightest shining lights of the Jewish
dispensation. And is it not so now? The more complete the consecration and
separation the more blessed and wide-spread and Divine is the light which
shines out from this holy character. But there were certain conditions of
Nazariteship then, as there are now. First of all, the Nazarite was to be a
total abstainer. No man who gives himself up to the wine-cup can be wholly
separated to God. There must be a separation from these things. As men draw
consciously near to God there will be an abandonment of intoxicants.
2. Their hair was to remain uncut (Numbers 6:5). In the olden time the
growth of the hair was thought to be indicative of strength. The idea may have
originated in many minds from the strength in Samson’s unshorn locks. But,
whatever the cause, this has very generally been thought to be the case. This
was done, we think, that it might be clearly indicated that nothing was to
emasculate or effeminate the persons thus set apart. The person who would be
all the Lord’s must give up everything which would mar or enfeeble his religious
character or life. It has been thought by some that long hair is a token of
subjection. So Paul is regarded as teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:5. Well, let it be
so. And then what does this indicate to the spiritually-minded person? Why,
surely, that the Christian Nazarite is entirely under subjection to God.
3. All who saw these persons knew that they were Nazarites. Their
unshorn locks told at once their real character. In like manner the holy
Christian will readily impress the mind of those by whom he is surrounded that
he belongs to Christ.
4. Furthermore, he was not to touch any dead body, not even of those
who were dearest to him. No one who aims to be a holy Christian should fail to
keep his “garments unspotted from the world.”
5. The Christian Nazarite’s vow is for life. With him, this
consecration is not merely for eight days, or for a month, or a year; but it is
for life. (Lewis R. Dunn, D. D.)
The vow of the Nazarite; or, acceptable consecration to God
Acceptable personal consecration to God is characterised by--
1. Voluntariness. The service of the slave, or of the hireling, Be
rejects.
2. Completeness. Divided allegiance is no allegiance.
3. Subordination of sensual enjoyments. Our animal passions must be
controlled by moral principles. Everything which tends to weaken our soul’s
vision, to blunt our susceptibility to spiritual impressions, to interrupt our
communion with God, or to deprive us of spiritual purity and power, we are
bound to abstain from.
4. Separation from all moral evil. (W. Jones.)
Of the vows of the Nazarites, and the use thereof to us:
The Nazarites were such persons as vowed a special kind of
holiness. The parts of their special holiness are two: first, while they were
in this vow; secondly, when the days of it were accomplished. This is the vow
and these are the rites belonging unto it: now let us observe the uses
remaining for us. For albeit these ceremonies be all abrogated, yet we shall
find great benefit to arise from hence to the whole Church.
1. And first concerning the sanctification of these Nazarites professing
holiness above others, it was a lively figure of Christ, signifying to the
whole Church the wonderful purity of Christ, who was fully and perfectly
separate from sinners. But was Christ such a Nazarite as these here spoken of?
I answer, no: He observed no part of this vow. The Nazarites abstained from
wine, the fruit of the vine, the blood of the grape: but Christ Himself in His
own person did not so. Howbeit He is indeed a true Nazarite, or rather the
truth of the Nazarites, separate from all the corruptions that attend upon the
rest of the sons of men, free from the common defilements of the world; and
that holy One which is called the Son of God. This is a great comfort for us to
consider the excellency of His sacrifice, being without blemish, for it was
most requisite that the unspeakable work of the Spirit should come in, that so
He might not be tainted with the common infection of original sin, but might be
endued with most perfect purity and innocency, and so be fully able to cover
our impurity and impiety (Ephesians 5:26-27), and withal as by a
certain pledge assure us, that in the end all our sins and imperfections shall
be done away. In Him is that fulfilled therefore which is spoken in the
Lamentations, that He was whiter than the milk, and purer than the snow, and
it agreeth more fitly and truly unto Him than unto these Nazarites.
2. Secondly this teacheth that such as were special ornaments of the
Church, and have received a more eminent office than others, should also labour
to shine before others in holiness of life, according to the measure of grace
which they have received (Romans 16:7). These thus advanced of God
are, in the eyes of the world, as a city set upon a hill; a little blemish
is soon seen in their face, a small stain appeareth in their coat; and
therefore Satan laboureth especially to tempt and seduce them. And Christ
telleth His disciples that Satan desired to winnow them--them I say above
others as their calling was above others; for they ,sere the master-builders,
and laid the foundation of the Church, upon which others builded. Let all those
therefore whose place and calling and gifts make them evident above others,
take heed to themselves: let them labour to cleave more closely to God, and so
to let their light shine before men that they, seeing their good works, may
glorify their Father which is in heaven. These are as chief captains of the
host, and the ensign-bearers of the Church, to show the way to others and to go
in and out before them in an unblamable course; and though they draw not all
unto them by their example, yet their fervency, their earnestness, shall serve
to instruct many others.
3. Thirdly, seeing these Nazarites must keep themselves from wine and
strong drink, as also from eating fresh or dried grapes, so long as the days of
their separation endured, we learn hereby that it is our duty to fly from all
evil, even all the occasions and allurements of sin whatsoever, though they be
never so pleasant to the eye or sweet to the taste; inasmuch as we shall find them
in the end to be more sharp than vinegar, more bitter than wormwood, more
deadly than poison. (W. Attersoll.)
Dangerous things to be avoided:
As much as we can, let us keep ourselves from slippery places, for
even on dry ground it is not very strongly that we stand. (J. Spencer.)
Degrading effects of drink
A minister of the gospel told me in 1847 one of the most thrilling
incidents I ever heard in my life. A member of his congregation came home for
the first time in his life intoxicated, and his boy met him on the doorstep,
clapping his hands and exclaiming, “Papa has come home!” He seized that boy by
the shoulder, swung him around, staggered, and fell with him in the hall. The
minister said to me, “I spent that night in that house. I went to the door, and
bared my brow that the night air might fall upon it and cool it; I walked up
and down the hail. There was his child dead; there was his wife in strong
convulsions, and he asleep. A man but thirty-five years of age asleep with a
dead child in the house, having a blue mark upon the temple where the corner of
the marble steps had come in contact with the head as he swung him round, and a
wife upon the very brink of the grave! I felt I must remain until he awoke, and
I did. When he awoke he passed his hand over his face, and exclaimed, ‘What is
the matter? Where am I? Where is my boy?’ ‘You cannot see him.’--’Where is my
boy?’ he inquired. ‘You cannot see him.’--’Stand out of my way. I will see my
boy!’ To prevent confusion, I took him to that child’s bedside, and, as I
turned down the sheet and showed him the corpse, he uttered the shriek, ‘Ah, my
child!’ One year afterwards that man was brought from a lunatic asylum to lie
side by side with his wife in one grave, and I attended his funeral.” The
minister of the gospel who told me that fact is to-day a drunken ostler in a
stable in Boston l Now tell me what drink will do. It will debase, degrade,
imbrute, and damn everything that is noble, bright, glorious, and godlike in a
human being. (J. B. Gough.)
A faithful abstainer:
The Rev. Canon Wilberforce was once in the neighbourhood of the
London Docks, in a little room as black as a chimney, but, through the
preaching of the gospel, many souls have been born there. He asked if any one
would get up and say what God had done for their souls. An old sailor rose and
said how bad he had been; felt that he was even a devil’s castaway; but six
years ago, in that little room, he was led to see that he was a great sinner,
but that Christ was a great Saviour, and that on the cross was nailed every one
of his sins. “I signed the pledge and threw away my pipe, and have been upheld
by God, because every morning I pray that I may be protected.” Returning
recently from Hong Kong, this old sailor had an accident and was badly scalded,
and was very ill. When he began to recover the doctor said, “You must take some
port-wine.” “No,” said the old sailor, “I am a teetotaller.” “But,” said the
doctor, “you need it to strengthen you.” “Doctor,” said the old man, “do you
think I shall die ii I don’t take the wine?” “Yes,” said the doctor. “Then,”
said the sailor, “when you get into the St. Katherine’s Docks, go round to the
little room and tell them that the old man died sober.” But he did not die, and
is alive to this hour to testify of the sufficiency of God’s grace to keep him.
Verses 23-26
On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel.
The threefold blessing
1. Open the hand wide. The Father comes to fill it. “The Lord bless
thee, and keep thee.”
2. Jesus comes next. “The Lord make His face shine upon thee,”
&c. The greatest change on nature’s brow is when light dawns. Gloom dwells
beneath the pall of night. It is so with the soul. Sad are the hours which are
not bright with Jesus. Then sins affright, and wrath dismays, and all the
future is despair. This blessing promises the shining of His face, not a brief
ray, but the full blaze of concentrated love. “The Lord make His face shine
upon thee.” Here, too, a precious pearl is added. It is grace. The words
proceed, “and be
gracious unto thee.” What wonders are wrapt up in grace I Its birth is in the
heavens, its fruit upon the earth. It looks on those in whom no merit dwells.
3. The blessing voice still speaks. “The Lord lift up His countenance
upon thee,” &c. Can they who have received so much need more? But more is
wondrously given. The truly blest have all the blessings of a Triune Jehovah.
Hence the Spirit’s favour is moreover pledged. Seek Christ, abide in Him, make
Him your all, then will this threefold blessing be your crown. (Dean Law.)
The priestly blessing
I. The divine
direction. The command to pronounce the blessing may be regarded as an
assurance that, when it was pronounced, the blessing itself would be given.
II. The divine
benediction.
1. The significant form of the benediction.
2. The Divine fulness of the benediction. “As the threefold
repetition of a word or sentence serves to express the thought as strongly as
possible (cf: Jeremiah 7:4; Jeremiah 22:29)
, the triple blessing expressed in the most unconditional manner the thought
that God would bestow upon His congregation the whole fulness of the blessing
enfolded in His Divine Being which was manifested as Jehovah.” The blessing
includes--
4. Cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.” There seems to be
an allusion to the
shining of the sun. It gives life, light, heat, beauty, power, joy.
III. The divine
ratification. “And they shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I
will bless them.” The benediction was not to be the mere utterance of a pious
wish; but God would give effect to it. “A Divine blessing goes along with
Divine institutions, and puts virtue and efficacy into them.” God will
certainly bless His own ordinances unto all those who believe. (W. Jones.)
The priestly blessing:
I. The priests,
among other good offices they were to do, are appointed solemnly to bless the
people in the name of the lord. Hereby God put an honour upon the priest, for
the less is blessed of the better; and hereby He gave great comfort and
satisfaction to the people, who looked upon the priest as God’s mouth to them.
Though the priest of himself could do no more but beg a blessing, yet being an
intercessor by office, and doing that in His name who commands the blessing,
the prayer carried with it a promise, and he pronounced it as one having authority,
with his hands lifted up and his face towards the people.
1. This was a type of Christ’s errand into the world, which was to
bless us (Acts 3:26) as the High Priest of our profession.
The last thing He did on earth was with uplifted hands to bless His disciples (Luke 24:50-51). Bishop Pearson observes
it as a tradition of the Jews, that the priests blessed the people only at the
close of the morning sacrifice, not of the evening sacrifice, to show that in
the days of the Messiah, which are (as it were) the evening of the world, the
benediction of the law should cease, and the blessing of Christ should take
place.
2. It was a pattern to gospel-ministers, the masters of assemblies,
who are in like manner to dismiss their solemn assemblies with a blessing. The
same that are God’s mouth to His people to teach and command them, are His
mouth likewise to bless them; and they that receive the law shall receive the
blessing.
II. A form of
blessing is here prescribed them. In other of their devotions no form is
prescribed; but this being God’s command of the blessing, that it might not
look like anything of their own He puts the very words into their mouths (Numbers 6:24-26). Where observe--
1. That the blessing is commanded upon each particular person: “The
Lord bless thee.” They must each of them prepare themselves to receive the
blessing, and then they should find enough in it to make them every man happy (Deuteronomy 28:3). If we take the law to
ourselves, we may take the blessing to ourselves, as if our names were
inserted.
2. That the name Jehovah is three times repeated in it, and (as the
critics observe) each with a different accent in the original. The Jews
themselves think there is some mystery. And we know what it is, the New
Testament having explained it (2 Corinthians 13:14).
3. That the favour of God is all in all in this blessing, for that it
is the fountain of all good.
4. That the fruits of this favour conveyed by this blessing are
protection, pardon, and peace.
The blessing of the high priest:
I. The general
character of this blessing.
1. It was a blessing given through a priest. Christ, as the great
High Priest who offered Himself without spot unto God, is the Divine channel of
blessing. Do we know the Lord’s Anointed?
2. This benediction is of the nature of intercession. Never forget
that Christ “made intercession for the transgressors.” He has, moreover, a
special pleading for believers (John 17:9).
3. This benediction is yet of a higher order than intercession. Here
is not only faith pleating, but faith receiving and bestowing. The priest
speaks the blessing: for which he asks.
4. This blessing is sure. Christ is commissioned of the Father, and
anointed of the Spirit, as the ambassador of peace.
5. It is continuous. God blesses ever; curses never.
II. The blessing
itself.
1. It passes from the priest to God. “The Lord bless thee.” What a
blessing the Lord gives! Have we not heard a mother say to her little child,
“Bless you “? What a wealth of meaning she threw into it. But when God says,
“Bless you! “ there are infinity and immutability in it. There can be no limit
to the goodwill of the infinite God.
2. Notice that the name of the Lord, or Jehovah, is three times
mentioned. Here we hear the voice of One, yet Three.
3. Notice that this benediction is all along in the singular. Why?
Because the people of God are one, and He views them as one, and so the
blessing comes upon the entire Church as a whole. But, next, I think it is that
every individual believer may take the whole of this benediction home to
himself.
III. The divine
amen. Here is the authority repeated by way of confirmation of what has been
said. “They shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless
them.” The priest does his part, and then the Lord makes the blessing
effectual. Herein is condescension on God’s part, and honour and security for
us. When the Lord’s name is named upon anything He will guard His own dedicated
things. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, and within it we are safe. I
think I see here a confirmation of those blessings which are pronounced by good
men. “They shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless
them.” I loved to have my grandfather’s blessing when I was preaching the Word
in early days. He has now gone into the glory; but he blessed me, and none can
take away the name of God from me. Most of you will remember the blessings of
good men who are now gone to glory; and God confirms those blessings. He allows
His people, whom He has made priests and kings unto God, to put His name upon
others, and to pronounce blessings upon them. Their word shall stand, and what
they bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. And then comes, best of all, the
blessing of our God most surely promised. “I will bless them”; they shall have
their troubles, but I will bless them through their troubles. When they have
earthly goods I will bless them and make them real comforts. I will bless their
basket and their store. If those earthly comforts arc taken away I will give
them compensation a thousandfold in myself. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Israel blest and kept:
1. The blessing was put into the mouth of Aaron the high priest, in
this as in other points a type and figure of the Lord Jesus Christ. But Aaron
could only pronounce the blessing; Jesus gives it.
2. Observe how, by implication, the doctrine of the Trinity is here set
forth.
I. “The Lord bless
thee.” The blessings meant would seem to be chiefly spiritual. Not that we are
to think lightly of temporal favours. They are left-hand blessings, if not
right-hand mercies; they are gifts to be thankful for on earth, if not graces
that take to heaven; provision for the perishing body, if not food for the
immortal soul. Health, strength, such a measure of worldly goods as shall keep
the wolf from the door and enable us to owe no man anything but love, children
growing up to be a comfort to their parents, a kind and affectionate partner,
warm and faithful friends, an untarnished name, who shall say that these are
not blessings for which God is to be praised? And yet how infinitely short do
these temporal blessings, which perish in the using, fall of spiritual
blessings which endure for evermore.
1. Godly fear in the heart--that
fountain of life by which an awakened sinner departs from the snares of
death--is not that of all blessings first and foremost because the “beginning
of wisdom?” It is “a fountain of life,” and, like a river, is only increased
and deepened by successive additions of grace. If we have not the beginning we
can have neither the middle nor end.
2. But is not faith a blessing too? And who know faith to be a blessing?
Those who are deeply exercised and tried by an unbelieving heart.
3. And is not hope a blessing too?
4. Love.
5. Patience.
6. Testimonies of God’s mercy and grace to the soul.
7. Is not the rod often a blessing?
II. “and keep
thee.” Blessing first and keeping afterwards. The blessing given, and then,
when given, the blessing kept. The letter written, and then sealed; the jewel
put into the casket, and then the casket locked. “The Lord keep thee.” We
cannot keep ourselves.
1. I need hardly observe that the first and foremost is to be kept
from positive evil. The Lord asked of the Father for His disciples, “I pray not
that Thou shouldst take them out of the world”--no; let them suffer there as I
have suffered before--“but keep them from the evil.” And this will be first and
foremost in the petitions of every child of God who knows his own evil heart
and has suffered from its weakness and treachery, that the Lord will keep him
from open evil, that he may bring no distress and guilt upon his own
conscience, or reproach upon the cause of God.
2. Error.
3. A spirit of delusion.
III. “the lord make
his face shine upon thee.”
1. The allusion here seems to be to the sun. Sometimes the natural
sun has not risen, and the world must needs be dark if the sun be still beneath
the horizon. So with many gracious souls, it is darkness with them because at
present neither the Day-star has appeared nor the Sun of Righteousness risen
upon them with healing in His wings. But sometimes after the sun has risen we
see not his face; dark clouds may obscure the face of that bright luminary
throughout the whole day, and we may not get a single ray. So, many of the
Lord’s family, after the Sun has risen upon them in the morning of their
spiritual life may pass perhaps much of their subsequent time in the dark
shadow, till perhaps at evening tide there is light, and a departing ray gilds
the dying pillow. But, again, there are sometimes days when mists drive rapidly
across the face of the bright orb of day, and yet occasionally he peeps through
the breaking clouds. And is not this, in some measure, an emblem of tile way in
which the Sun of Righteousness is continually obscured by the mists and fogs
which spring up out of our unbelieving heart, hidden from view by the doubts
and fears that, like the vapours of the valley, spread themselves to our view
over His beauteous face? Yet there are time, when He gleams through the clouds
and disperses the mists. When the Lord is pleased to bless the soul and shine
upon it with any sweet manifestation, then He breaks in through the dark
clouds; but they gather again. It is not in Christian experience one bright
summer day. Our spiritual climate is humid, our inward latitude northern.
2. “The Lord make His face shine upon thee.” Is the Lord, then, sovereign
in these matters? Can we not lift up our hand and remove the cloud? We
have as much power to stretch forth our hand and sweep away the mists that
obscure the Sun of Righteousness, as we have power with the same hand to sweep
away a London fog. How this puts the creature into his right place I and the
creature is only in his right place when he is nothing, and God is all in all.
3. “The Lord make His face shine upon thee.” And if He make His face
shine upon thee, He will make thy face shine too.
IV. “and be
gracious unto thee.” How sweet the gospel is! But what makes the gospel sweet?
That one word which sheds a perfume through the whole--grace. Take grace out of
the gospel and you destroy the gospel. Grace pervades every part and every
branch of the blessed gospel; it is the life of the gospel; in a word, it is
the gospel itself.
V. “the lord lift
up his countenance upon thee.” The meaning of this expression may, I think, be
illustrated by a simple figure. A child has been disobedient to, or otherwise displeased
its parent. When we offend a person, his face is not toward us as at other
times. It was so with Laban towards Jacob; and if we have in any way incurred a
friend’s or superior’s displeasure we watch instinctively his countenance. Is it down or up? Does
it wear a frown or a smile? Is it looking upon us with the eye of affection, or
are the eyes averted? We can tell in a moment if we know the countenance. Thus
is the blessing asked, “The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee,” as a kind
and affectionate parent upon an obedient child.
VI. “and give thee
peace.” Oh what a blessing! It is this that makes the pillow easy in life, and
will alone make that pillow easy in death--peace with God through Jesus Christ,
“the peace of God which passeth all understanding.” The blessing that the
gracious soul most earnestly covets is peace; for this is the sweetest
honey-drop in God’s cup. It is true that it does not make the heart overflow
like joy, nor to dance with exultation like the first beaming in of the rays of
hope, nor melt it down like visits of love; but it is in some respects sweeter
than all, because it so settles down the soul into sweet assurance; it is the
realisation of the Saviour Himself, for “He is our peace,” and may thus be
called the crowning blessing. But see how the links of this Divine chain meet.
“The Lord bless thee”--link the first; “and keep thee”--link the second; “the
Lord make His face shine upon thee”--the third; “and be gracious unto
thee”--the fourth; “the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee”--the fifth;
“and give thee peace”--the sixth. Six blessed links, and all united into one
continuous chain; for when the Lord begins to bless, He ends with peace. We
need wish no greater nor pray for a higher blessing than peace, for God has
none greater to give. When a father dies he leaves his children all his goods.
Jesus, before He died, said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace give I unto you;
not as the world giveth give I unto you.” It was His last legacy; His dying
gift; in His own eyes of the greatest value, and it should be such in ours. (J.
C. Philpot.)
The pastor’s wish and prayer:
I. Let us reflect
on the nature and extent of the blessings here involved.
1. Divine benediction. In a world in which everything is rather
semblance than reality, how delightful the thought that there is One--the
Uncreated and Unconditional, the Ever-present and Ever-true, who is not more
able than He is willing to overtake all the conditions of our being, and to do
for us exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think! Our weakness can
never fall to a depth lower than His power can reach. Our necessities can never
exceed His resources. Our difficulties can never be so involved but that His
wisdom can direct us. Our sorrows can never be so acute, or so accumulated, but
His Spirit can assuage and relieve us.
2. Divine preservation. Not only “the Lord bless thee,” but “keep
thee.” The consciousness that with a finite and dependent nature we are in a
world of temptation, must ever render acceptable and blessed the help of
another mightier and more able.
3. Divine illumination. “The Lord make His face to shine upon thee.”
The reference here is doubtless to that mysterious symbol of His presence which
God vouchsafed to His ancient Church, as the outward and visible expression of
His favour and love. We rise from the material into the spiritual, and repose
in the promise of that inward light which is ever streaming from the Spirit
through the truth to guide and cheer arid render certain the steps of the wanderer
across the desert of life.
4. Divine communication. “The Lord be gracious unto thee.” The grace
of God is but another expression for His infinite and exhaustless bounty. The
highest conception which we can form of the Divine benevolence is derived from
the work of human redemption. Herein is love. In no other act of His
administration is it so conspicuous or so glorious. Salvation is grace running
out into infinite and everlasting kindness. And what are all the communications
of spiritual blessing to the soul but the love of God ever repeating itself,
and assuring us that the treasures of eternity are unlocked to supply our need?
5. Divine manifestation. “The Lord lift up the light of His
countenance upon thee.” What will heaven be but this perfected and perpetuated
in the immediate presence of God?
6. Divine satisfaction. “The Lord give thee peace.” It is a question
in mechanics whether there be such a thing as a body in a state of perfect
rest. We confess ourselves to be in a position not to solve the problem. Of
this however we are certain, that in the spiritual world there is a centre of
eternal repose on which the whole universe may rest for ever. The soul of man
is torn and distracted with unfulfilled desires; and possess what he may, while
one single longing is left unsatisfied the perfection of inward quiet and peace
is impossible. This can only come with that completeness of life which is
enjoyed in God.
II. Let us inquire
into the ever-living and unchangeable source of such inestimable blessing. The
incommunicable name Jehovah, here translated Lord, includes within itself every
possible perfection and excellence. It not only points to the sum of being, but
to the fountain of blessedness. His eternity we place in opposition to all that
is temporary; His immutability in opposition to all that is changing; His
immortality in opposition to whatever has in it the seeds of decay and death;
His all-sufficiency and infinite felicity in opposition to all that is
inadequate and unsatisfying. (R. Ferguson, LL. D.)
A comprehensive benediction:
What does this prayer not include? What a richness and plenitude
of Divine mercy does it bring into view? It expresses as perfectly as any human
words can express, the immense and infinite good which can he found in God, as the
Root of all being and the Fountain of all happiness. What more could we ask on
your behalf than that you may individually be the chosen objects of the
unchangeable love and fatherly care of Him, who, while He has the weight of all
worlds upon His arm, yet stoops to feed the ravens when they cry; who, amid the
government of worlds, is not unmindful of individuals, and who, while He is
guiding the stars in their course, is at the same moment numbering the very
hairs of your heads? What more can we ask for you, than that He who never
sleeps, and whose eyelids never slumber, whose power fainteth not, and who is
ever travelling forth in the greatness of His strength mighty to save, may
watch over you and preserve you, give you more than the warrior’s shield of
triple brass, and bruise every enemy under your feet? What more can we now ask
for you than that He, who ever lives and moves in the light of His own
eternity, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the deeper
and ever growing knowledge of Himself, fill your soul with the everlasting
beamings of truth, cause the sunshine of His presence to break through every
cloud, and falling softly on your steps, make your path like that of the
shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day? What more can
we ask for you, than that He whose eternal love prompted Him to provide for the
redemption of our race, may unlock the treasures of His mercy, and bless you
with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, may grant you according to the
riches of His grace, and, adding to the plenitude of His grace the riches of
His glory, thus fill you unto His own fulness? What more can we ask for you,
than that He whose name is the Lord--the Lord God, merciful and gracious,
longsuffering, slow to anger, abundant in goodness and in truth--while He
conceals the intenser glory of His nature, would ever manifest Himself unto
you, take you into deeper communion with His Spirit, open up heaven to your
view, and fill your vision with the glories of immortality? What more can we
ask for you, than that He who is the only centre of rest for His dependent
universe, may take from your nature every unholy and disturbing element, and
give you that peace which passeth all understanding, sanctify you in soul,
body, and spirit, and lift you above the din and distraction of this noisy and
conflicting world, introduce you into the deep quiet of His own Infinite Being,
and fill you with the joy which is unspeakable? What more can we ask for you,
than that this goodness and mercy may follow you all the days of your life, and
that when you enter the dark valley which separates the silence of eternity
from the murmurs of time, you may be conscious of the immediate presence of the
glorified Redeemer, and dropping the worn-out garment of the flesh, take your
place reclothed and immortal, before the throne of God? (R. Ferguson, LL. D.)
The golden blessing
I. The golden
blessing was given through a mediator. The Lord spake to Aaron through Moses.
Jesus Christ is our Mediator, through whom all spiritual blessings are given.
II. The blessing
was given by priestly lips. It was Aaron, and his sons, who were to bless the
children of Israel. God spake to Moses, Moses to Aaron, Aaron to the people.
Jesus Christ is both Mediator and Priest. He is a mediatorial Priest, and a
priestly Mediator. There is no blessing apart from the true priesthood and
sacrifice.
III. This threefold
blessing tells of a trinity in unity, and a unity in trinity. Faith believes
it, but reason cannot understand it.
IV. IN this
benediction we have the earnest of all spiritual blessings. What a fulness
there is!
V. The blessing
was for all Israel. “On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel.” It
was a common blessing for all the tribes. It is a blessing for those who are
rejoicing, and for those who are sorrowing; for those who are praying, and for
those who are praising. It is a blessing for the young, and for the old; for
those who labour, and for those who suffer. It is a blessing for the living, if
for them to live is Christ; for the dying, if they die in the Lord.
VI. It is a
blessing secured by purpose, purchase, and power. “I will bless them.” Satan,
and all our enemies, will be constrained to confess, “He hath blessed and I
cannot reverse it.” (R. E. Sears.)
The Divine blessing and keeping:
What a joy to abide under the Divine blessing! This puts a
gracious flavour into all things. If we are blessed, then all our possessions
and enjoyments are blessed; yea, our losses and crosses, and even our
disappointments. God’s blessing is deep, emphatic, effectual. A man’s blessing
may begin and end in words, but the blessing of the Lord makes rich and
sanctifies. The best wish we can
have for our dearest friend is not, “May prosperity attend thee,”
but, “The Lord bless thee.” It is equally a delightful thing to be kept of God;
kept by Him, kept near Him, kept in Him. They are kept, indeed, whom God keeps;
they are preserved from evil, they are reserved unto boundless happiness. God’s
keeping goes with His blessing, to establish it and cause it to endure. (C.
H. Spurgeon.)
God’s favour the comfort of the soul
It is God’s presence which constitutes the saint’s morning. As the
stars may impart some light and yet the brightness of all combined cannot form
the light of day, but when the sun appears there is day forthwith, so God may
make some comfort arise to a soul from secondary and inferior means; but it is
He Himself alone who, by the shining of His face and the smiles of His
countenance, causes morning. (T. Burroughs.)
Brightness to be renewed:
A friend of mine has some diamonds. He tells me that if he
sets these diamonds out in the strong sunlight for a time, and then removes
them into a dark room, they will shine brilliantly even amidst the darkness.
But after a little while this brilliance becomes dim, and finally goes out
altogether. The precious stones must be taken into the sunshine again if they
are to be seen in the gloom. And is not this a parable of the life of
Christians? God calls them His “jewels”; and if their Divine lustre is to be
seen amidst the darkness of the world, they must often seek to look upon the
face of the Sun of Righteousness. If they are careless about this their
brightness will soon grow dim; but if they are faithful that brightness shall be
constantly renewed. (Christian Commonwealth.)
Buoyant in the favour of God
As--in some summer’s morning, which wakes with a ring of
birds, when it is clear, leagues up into the blue, and everything is as
distinctly cut as if it stood in heaven, and not on earth, when the distant
mountains lie bold upon the horizon, and the air is full of the fragrance of
flowers which the night cradled--the traveller goes forth with buoyant and
elastic step upon his journey, and halts not till in the twilight shadows he reaches
his goal, so may we, who are but pilgrims, go forth beneath the smile of God,
upon our homeward journey. (H. W. Beecher.)
Peace with God:
I reverence hundreds and hundreds of men who don’t hold my
opinion; but when I lie dying I don’t want their speculations to rest upon. I
want that Book for a pillow, for that Book rests on the nature of things. That
is the only honest Book in the world. That tells me what I am; that tells me
how to get into the mood of peace with God; that is what I wanted on a cold winter’s
night as I rolled forty feet down a precipice, expecting instant death; and if
that is what I wanted then, it’s what I want any time, isn’t it? What is true
in our highest moments is true in all moments. And what we see only by flashes
is true the whole day long, the whole year long, life through, eternity
through. If there is any certainty, it is certainty for all time and places.
Now it is certain that when I lie dying I want that Book for a pillow, and,
among other things in a pillow, I want a certainty that I have attained
similarity of feeling with God, and love what He loves, and hate what He hates.
That will be enough to give me peace. What! What! I am depending on my own
righteousness when I make this my pillow! I beg your pardon, that is not what I
say. If my life is to be my pillow, I must put my whole life into the pillow.
There would be more than one thorn in the pillow if I were to put my whole life
in it. Is there anybody here who can put his whole life in his pillow and rest
in peace? You are going to depend on your own righteousness? Put your whole
life into the pillow, and then put your head on it, and it will not be the
softest kind of a support for a dying hour. You may do as you please, but I,
for one, feel very sure I am going hence, that I want to go hence in peace,
that I cannot go in peace unless I love what God loves, and hate what God
hates. (Joseph Cook.)
Verse 27
Put My name upon the children of Israel.
The Christian’s Divine name
I. The name of God
put upon his people indicates God’s love towards them.
II. The name of God
put upon his people indicates the relationship in which they stand to God. Not
only His friends, but His children.
III. The name of God
put upon his people indicates God’s property in them
IV. The name of God
put upon his people indicates their conformity to God’s will.
V. The name of God
put upon his people indicates the resemblance they bear to god.
VI. The name of God
put upon his people indicates the assurance they have of final union with God.
(The Evangelical Preacher.)
God’s name upon His people:
Your old name is an ugly one. I suppose you know what your name
is? If you have forgotten, let me remind you that your name is entered in God’s
Book as “sinner.” I do not think you will be sorry to exchange that bad name
for a better. I knew a lady once who had a very ugly name, and she could not
bear to be called by it. She got all her friends to promise never to use it, and
she always signed herself by a pretty name which she selected for herself out
of many others. But of course, that never altered the fact that her real name
was the old and ugly one. Just so, you may not like the name “sinner,” and you
may call yourself by anything else, and persuade everybody that it does not belong to you, but
that never alters the fact that you are a “sinner.” God gave you the name, and
God alone can change it. But oh! if you long for a “new name,” tell Him so. He
has one ready for you, and such a splendid, beautiful, adorable name! “I will
write on him My new name.” (Eva Poole.)
Valued because of the Giver:
When our soldiers returned from that great succession of blunders,
the Crimean War, those who had specially distinguished themselves were
marshalled in a line to receive the crosses or medals which rewarded their
valorous merit from the Queen. As she passed along the line she took the
decorations one by one from a salver carried by her side and pinned it to the
breast of the happy recipient. As she was pinning one on it slipped from her
hand and fell to the ground. A little girl, who was near, picked it up and was
proceeding to pin it to the soldier’s breast, when he stepped a pace back and
said, “No; I do not value that piece of metal. It is the hand which bestows it
I value.” So with the gifts which God gives us here, though they are of
themselves of priceless value, yet even more precious is the knowledge that
they are bestowed by our heavenly Father..
──《The Biblical Illustrator》